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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-04-04, Page 20q P40,4 4A- ►UDERIUH SIGNAL,•STAR, T.KURSDAY, APRIL, 4, O 974 cal cM w is recur bRy 'Bi l • Dimmick usicians :and composers have traditionally drawn in- spiration from strange and varied wonders the world of- fers._ Beethoven watched moonlightdance on his keyboard as he compoied he, Moon.,light Somata; '� a nightingale singing amid the thunder; of ' during the German hilt London during World War II, i spired Vera Lynn's hit warti a recording, -anti ' Prince Ed and Island potato farming prompted Stom pin' Tom Conners to sing Bud the Spud from the Bri'kht Red Mud" . Possibly one of the strangest musical inspirations came to the McMillan' Family Fortress when the group performed at a special church service on a, dusty street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in the West Indies. The" McMillan family, from Goderich, began , playing religio4s music as a group about four ,years ago. An" a American Evangelist,' John Woodhouse, heard the fary play and sing at a church ser- vice sponsored by, the Huron Christian Men's Association in May 1972. He invited them to accompany him on a tour of the West Indies the following January:' "At first' we thought he .was joking, but we soon learned. that he wasn't," • Mrs: Shirley McMillan said as =she and her family sat talking about their experience. • . • •. 'Shirley 'plays alto saxophone in the group. Her husband Don „plays trombone, son Ernie, 16, lead• trumpet., daughter Eleanor, 14, clarinet' and. Elizabeth, , 10,., plays second trumpet. "It was pretty hot. People were corning 'off the street. 1 'think the music attracted them, Ernie . said,recalling, that memorable Sunday. , . The church was not a church as one would find in Goderich. It was a 'building. Nothing was inside. It wa's, ju.;t ,,,a .:shell. The' atmosphere reflected poverty, a contrast to what Canadians are used to. The ,McMillans noted that ' the service was humble yet it had tremendous sincerity. - "There were no benches, just, a pulpit," Don said. "An old man noticed we were haying difficulty to hold our, music ,down,l' Shirley said. ; .. He took clothes pins holdik his laundry and offered them t the family th hold their sheet music in place. Another difference the- family encountered, was the service in Creole, the language of Haiti. Everything said was translated for thein. The service was 'special. It was special to he Haitians who attended because it marked the opening of•a,new church, spon- sored by 'the Oriental Missionary =Society. It was special to the McMillans because they vowed to help support the church with money they made playing as a group. .When , they play, no fee is,- charged.- Donations are accep- ted: The McMillans keep only enough money to cover 'their expenses, the rest they send to the church in Haiti. The ,idea of a long playing record came 'to ,them last Sep- tember or "October`' "We thought we could make more money with the record,' Shirley said. , The record has 16 religious songs, most of'them traditional. Four selections were written by William Guither and,John Peterson, modern ospel writers. To help fortify the McMillan family's sound, two .other Goderich musicians "joined the recording session. ' William Camera ;•"" S'l'ayed organ. He is Director of Praise, Knox. Presbyterian; Church, Goderich, and music supervisor of the Goderich Public School System. Frank .Bissett who' is organist and choir leader of iGoder.ich's' ..First Baptist`^"Church, played piano. The record album is inter= denominational, Persons of all Christian faiths can enjoy' it. Satisfaction comes not only from listening to the music however; as ''all profits• go towards funding the mission church in Port -,au; Prince. The ;album " is tl sold in Goderich at most churches and Anderson's Book Centre. In Clinton., the Radiant Life Cen- tre sells it. Price is $3.50. Sales have been good.' "J've sold about 60 myself," Don said.,. ° ' He added that the album will seon be 'for sale in most' of 'Huron CountY. No plans have been made for, national record- label, Newmarket, Ont., the album is technically' good. It combines both instrumental - and vocal tracks,.-. lending :' variety to its format. As Conversation with the • McMillans drew to an end, - ,, Don -mentioned a stark contrast which has stood out in the minds of the family. After ?leaving dust and poverty in Haiti, they arrived in gleaming, 'Miami within 2 1/2 hours, The , , ca cruising along nightspotspaved shirty streets clashed with their recent memories of tumbledown° shacks, the • church empty of everything but people with faith, people riding on donkeys. Ten year qld Elizabeth said, as . the family drove their car out of Miami toward home, "These people don't look as happy as the poor people in Haiti." rehtt leediff IN QODERICH 'PHONE 5244532 MANAGER - CLAYTON MIZEN AUTHORIZED S4LES Itt SERVICE • . Vacuum Cleaners • Washir/Siiin Dryers • Portable Dryers RENT or BUY on easy terms. The McMillan ,Fa.oily:, Fortress, The mui4icians recorded the album JanuaTy • 26. It was released March 22. Recording went well. Num- bers ,were rehearsed in ad- vance. Some problems were en: countered when the gr9up "We kind of froze in front of the equipment," Shirley remarked. The,McMillan• Family For .tress was used to playing- to peopfe, *but 'cold microphdnes and banks of -"recording in - They completed only _five num-,,, bers in the' morning, but after lunch they finished 'the other 11 selections. The session lasted 9 1/2 hours. 0 The ,album is called sent sPiration the family first „heard during tlie Oriental Missionary Society Conventjon in St. Pet rsburg, Fla., just before the embarlted on the West In - Recorded on the Tip Top from left, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Ernie. HUTCHMSON APPLIANCES iRADE INS ACCEPTED *308 HURON pc). 524-7831 Junior Farmer anniversary set -By JIM- HENDERSON RR 5, Seaforth President', Huron County Junior Farmers rt is my pleasure tO be president of the Huron County, Junior Farmers on the year of . their 2,5th A:nnlversary. In 1949 the Junior Farmers of' Huron County formed 'e county club 4. • WELCOME SERVICE would like lo,call you with "housewarrning gifts!' and in-' .formation . about your pevi location. The Hostess will be glad to arrange your subscrip- tion to. the Signal -Star , Call her at 524-6051 which became a part of the'. provincial' iirganization- The Jimior- Farmers are planning celebrations for later in'. the In' the , past 25' years the changes with the joining of the Junior Institute v‘iieh Athe Junior Farmers being a ,mejor _one, Many urban young people joining the organization in the past few ,yeara• his increaSed the number ormembers. " The Junior Farmers in the past have tried ,Co keep up its inottd of Self 'Hero and COM; munity Betterment 'through sport tournaments :and Many services too. The, Junior Farmers also aim in.trynig to help -its members in developing leaderSh‘p qualities and develop youngi people's ski143, in singing, debating; 'drama etc. and in many games The Junior Farmers is a great -organization., for: ,young people -to belong to not ,only to develop their skills and 'leader - TItE UNIVERSITY OP WESTERN ONTARIO* London, Ontario SCHOOkS 1'974 INTERVIEWS KINCARDINE, GODERICH AND AREA STUDENTS Ms, Angela Armitt, DirectOr of die Summer School and Exton- sion Department of the•Unlvertfitiof Western Ontario, will hold Student Interviews In Kincardine op Wednesday, April 10,from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. In Room 3 at the Kincardine District High Students presently taking University courses or persons in- terested in entering a Univers* program should plan to see • Miss ArrnItt When she is in Kineardirw. ' Lilts of tbe cOurses to be offered this surnmer in Eveninfitrid • . Day Summer Schools are 'now available. Let Scotiabanic income tax, setvice prepare your Tax Returns for you 7 dependability at a reasonable cost. ship but is a great wiv to meet many people all over Ontario.- The Bank of Nova Scotia Mr; D.E. White' Manager 524-8359 4‘.° 0°4( Visit the FiRST! .wite ass water! 'AAtrex Liquid, easiest to measure, mix and keep in suspension, gives most uniform application, .covers inore area with every tankful. You now spray twice as many acres pee -emergent per tankful with AAtrex Liquid. This means that you now save 'both time and labour, as well as 'having The best possible tontrol against annual bibadleaf wepds and most grasses. . OPEN FRIDAY NIGHT TILL 0 PM, 1111111111111 SHOPPE Goderich For more information, talk to your AAtrex dealer. C1BA-GEIGY -Agrochemicais 8323